Islamabad, July 01: The Parliamentary Caucus on the Promotion of Immunization in Pakistan, in its General Meeting held on June 30, 2010, adopted a Constitution of the Caucus and elected a 15-member Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee unanimously elected its office bearers: President: Dr. Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, MNA, Parliamentary Secretary on Health (NA-314, Sindh VII, PPPP); Vice Presidents: Dr. Donya Aziz, MNA (NA-304, Punjab-XXXII, PML) and Ms. Fauzia Ijaz, MNA (NA-317, Sindh-X, MQM); General Secretary: Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, MNA (NA-49, Islamabad-II, PML-N); Joint Secretary: Engr. Shaukatullah, MNA, Parliamentary Secretary Information Technology (NA-43, Bajaur Agency, FATA, Ind.); and Treasurer: Syed Haider Ali Shah, MNA (NA-16, Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ANP.

The Parliamentary Caucus on the Promotion of Immunization in Pakistan, including Members of the National Assembly and the Senate of Pakistan, has been facilitated by PILDAT on June 01, 2010. Honourable Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi, MNA, Deputy Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan has consented to be the Patron of the Caucus while it has a total of 22 members (as of June 30, 2010) with 3 Senators and 19 MNAs.

PILDAT has facilitated the formation of the Caucus in the Sindh Assembly under the patronage of Honourable Mr. Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, MPA and Speaker Provincial Assembly of Sindh, while Mr. Anwar Ahmed Khan Mahar, MPA and Mr. Mohammad Moin Aamir Pirzada have taken up the responsibilities as coordinators of the Caucus. A similar caucus has also been established in the Punjab Assembly under the patronage of the Deputy Speaker Honourable Mr. Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, MPA and Dr. Asad Ashraf, MPA has been elected as the convener of the Caucus. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly has also formed similar caucus under the patronage of Honourable Mr. Kiramat Ullah Khan, Speaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and has elected Mr. Saleem Khan MPA and Minister for Population Welfare and Ms. Shazia Tehmas, MPA and Chairperson of Committee on Population Welfare as the Convener and Coordinator, respectively, of the Caucus. PILDAT also facilitated the formation of caucus on the Promotion of Immunization in the Legislative Assembly of Azad Jammu and Kashmir under the patronage of Honourable Mr. Shah Ghulam Qadir, MLA, Speaker Legislative Assembly of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Dr. Muhammad Najeeb Naqi, MLA and Minister for Health has been elected as the Convener of the Caucus. The Caucus is also formed in the Balochistan Assembly under the patronage of Honourable Mr. Muhammad Aslam Bhootani, the Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly and Dr. Ruquia Saeed Hashmi MPA and Minister for inter provincial Coordination is appointed as a convener of the Caucus.

The Parliamentary Caucus on Promoting Immunization Programme in Pakistan has been facilitated by PILDAT so that concerned and interested Parliamentarians can take up this cause with positive approach and rally other Parliamentarians, to raise this issue in the Parliament, in their Constituencies and in public and to monitor performance/implementation of EPI programme in their constituencies. A committed leadership of Parliamentarians can add to the steps towards achieving MDG 4 (Health) as they can strongly advocate on the issue at the highest level, allocate adequate resources for child health, legislate to ensure universal access to essential care and also oversee the implementation of relevant policies.